صلىmay bless الإلهُGod عليكupon you ياO بْنَson of رسولِهِHis Messenger
صلى الإلهُ عليك يا بْنَ رسولِهِ
وهَدىand may guide لطاعِتكto obey you الوَرَىhumankind لسبيلِهِto His path
وهَدى لطاعِتك الوَرَى لسبيلِهِ
May God bless you, O son of His Messenger,
May God bless you, O son of His Messenger,
And guide humankind, through obedience to you, to His path.
And guide the people through your obedience, to His path.
فبِكَso through you استقرَّbecame established الحقُّtruth واتضحand became clear الهدىguidance
فبِكَ استقرَّ الحقُّ واتضح الهدى
وأبانand became manifest للثَّقَلينto humankind and jinn وجهُthe face of دليلِهِits proof
وأبان للثَّقَلين وجهُ دليلِهِ
Through you truth is established and guidance made clear,
Through you, truth has been established and guidance made clear,
And the face of its proof becomes manifest to humankind and jinn.
And the path has been shown to both mankind and jinn.
ياO بنَson of الأئمةِthe imams منfrom ذؤابةِthe crest of هاشمٍHashim
يا بنَ الأئمةِ من ذؤابةِ هاشمٍ
شَرَفٌnobility سَماrose high بفروعهin its branches وأصولهand its roots
شَرَفٌ سَما بفروعه وأصوله
O son of the imams, from the crest of Hashim,
O son of the Imams, from the honorable Hashems,
A nobility exalted in its branches and its roots.
Whose branches and roots are noble and lofty.
ومبيدand destroyer of مُلْكِthe realm of الرومِthe Romans بالنصرِthrough the victory الذيthat
ومبيد مُلْكِ الرومِ بالنصرِ الذي
نَطَقَتproclaimed بهit الآياتُthe verses منfrom إنجليهits Gospel
نَطَقَت به الآياتُ من إنجليه
And destroyer of the Romans' realm through the victory that
Vanquisher of the Romans with the victory,
The verses from its Gospel proclaimed.
Of which the verses in the Bible speak.
قدalready شامglimpsed lightning منهfrom it الشامُSyria أعظمَthe mightiest بارِقٍlightning-cloud
قد شام منه الشامُ أعظمَ بارِقٍ
يمحوwashes away الفِرِنْجَةthe Franks منهfrom it بعضُsome of سيولهits torrents
يمحو الفِرِنْجَة منه بعضُ سيوله
Syria has glimpsed from it the mightiest lightning-cloud;
Damascus has been illuminated by it with the greatest of flashes,
Some of its torrents wash away the Franks.
That will erase some of the Franks with its torrents.
بادرْhasten بيومٍwith a day مثلِlike بدرٍBadr إنْif يكنwas
بادرْ بيومٍ مثلِ بدرٍ إنْ يكن
لأبيكfor your father ذاكthat فإنthen indeed ذاthis لسليلهfor his descendant
لأبيك ذاك فإن ذا لسليله
Hasten with a day like Badr; if that one was
Prepare for a day like Badr, if your father had that,
Your father's, then this is his descendant's.
Then that belongs to his offspring.
قدalready حانhas come حَيْنُهمُtheir doom وكادand almost لقربهbecause of its nearness
قد حان حَيْنُهمُ وكاد لقربه
منهمfrom among them يُسمِّعُناmakes us hear صياحَthe shriek of عَويلهits wailing
منهم يُسمِّعُنا صياحَ عَويله
Their doom has come; so near is it that it almost
Their time has come and is nearing,
Makes us hear, from among them, its shrieking wail.
Its nearness almost makes us hear their wailing.
للهِto God, in admiration جيشٌan army مثلُlike جيشكyour army مُعْلَمbearing battle-marks
للهِ جيشٌ مثلُ جيشك مُعْلَم
فالنصرُfor victory يرحلmarches دائباunceasingly برحيلهwith its march
فالنصرُ يرحل دائبا برحيله
How wondrous, by God, an army like yours, bearing battle-marks!
God has an army like yours, glorious,
For victory marches ceaselessly with its march.
So victory constantly accompanies it.
لولاwere it not for الضجيجُthe uproar لكادَwould almost يسمعhear ناصِتٌan attentive listener
لولا الضجيجُ لكادَ يسمع ناصِتٌ
صوتَthe voice of المَلائكِthe angels فيهwithin it منfrom تهليلهits declarations of God's oneness
صوتَ المَلائكِ فيه من تهليله
Were it not for the uproar, an attentive listener could almost hear
If not for the clamor, a scout would almost hear
The angels' voices within it, amid its chants of God's oneness.
The angels' voices in it, glorifying.
وأجْرِand set running الجيادthe steeds فكلُّfor every طِرْفٍnoble steed سابحswiftly coursing
وأجْرِ الجياد فكلُّ طِرْفٍ سابح
شوقاin longing لهذاfor this النصرvictory جَلّgrew mighty صهيلُهits neighing
شوقا لهذا النصر جَلّ صهيلُه
And set the steeds running: every coursing charger
And the neighing of the steeds, with every part swimming
Neighs mightily in longing for this victory.
Yearning for this great victory, sublime is its neighing.
وشِمِand draw السيوفَthe swords إذاًthen فكلُّfor every مُهنَّدٍIndian-forged sword
وشِمِ السيوفَ إذاً فكلُّ مُهنَّدٍ
لرقابِfor the necks of أهلِthe people of الكفرunbelief فَرْطُthe extremity of نُحولهits thinness
لرقابِ أهلِ الكفر فَرْطُ نُحوله
And draw the swords, then: every Indian-forged blade
And the drawing of the swords, so every sharpened one
Is thin beyond measure for the necks of unbelievers.
Is for the necks of the disbelievers, overflowing their pools.
فليَثْبُتِso let them stand firm الإفرنجُthe Franks منهfrom him لقَسْوَرٍagainst a lion
فليَثْبُتِ الإفرنجُ منه لقَسْوَرٍ
بعثsent الحُتوفdeaths إليهمُupon them منfrom غِيلهhis thicket
بعث الحُتوف إليهمُ من غِيله
Let the Franks stand firm against the lion in him,
So let the Franks beware, for there is a lion
Who has sent deaths upon them from his thicket.
Who has sent the brave warriors against them from his den.
ماnot مالهمtheir wealth وحريمهمُand their womenfolk ودماؤهمand their blood
ما مالهم وحريمهمُ ودماؤهم
إلاanything but وَديعتهhis deposit بكفِّin the hand of وكيلهhis agent
إلا وَديعته بكفِّ وكيله
Their wealth, their womenfolk, and their blood are
Their wealth, women, and blood,
Nothing but his deposit in his agent's hand.
Are nothing but a trust in the hand of its keeper.
فالبَرُّso the land مثلُlike البحرِthe sea منfrom فرسانهhis horsemen
فالبَرُّ مثلُ البحرِ من فرسانه
والبحرand the sea مثلlike البرthe land منfrom أسطولهhis fleet
والبحر مثل البر من أسطوله
The land is like the sea with his horsemen,
The land is filled with its horsemen like a sea,
And the sea like the land with his fleet.
And the sea is filled with its fleet like land.
جَمْعٌa host يَبيتspend the night الطيرُthe birds فوقabove رماحِهits lances
جَمْعٌ يَبيت الطيرُ فوق رماحِه
عُدْماfor lack of لكثرتهbecause of its multitude مكانَa place for مَقيلهtheir midday rest
عُدْما لكثرته مكانَ مَقيله
A host above whose lances birds spend the night,
A gathering, above whose spears the birds spend the night,
For its multitude leaves no place for their midday rest.
Unable to find a place to rest for their abundance.
ضاقتْgrew too narrow بهfor it الكرةُthe globe التيwhich هوit مِلْؤُهاfills it
ضاقتْ به الكرةُ التي هو مِلْؤُها
حتىuntil يكادَalmost يشقُّهاsplits it برَعيلهwith its vanguard
حتى يكادَ يشقُّها برَعيله
The globe, which it fills, has grown too narrow for it,
The earth whose entirety it fills has been straitened by it,
Until its vanguard almost splits it apart.
Almost bursting it with its tremors.
ياO أرفعَhighest of الخلفاءthe caliphs قَدْراin rank ياO إماimam, first part
يا أرفعَ الخلفاء قَدْرا يا إما
مَcompletes 'imam' الحقِّtruth دعوةُan appeal from صادقٍone sincere فيin قِيلهhis speech
مَ الحقِّ دعوةُ صادقٍ في قِيله
O highest of caliphs in rank, O imam
O highest of caliphs by rank, O Imam
Of truth—an appeal from one sincere in his words:
Of truth, the sincere call is in your words.
إنindeed الذيthe one whom أَهَّلْتَناyou enabled us لمَديحهto praise him
إن الذي أَهَّلْتَنا لمَديحه
ورفعتَهand you raised him فيin المُلْكsovereignty بعدafter نزولهhis descent
ورفعتَه في المُلْك بعد نزوله
Indeed, the one you enabled us to praise,
That which you have qualified us for praising
And raised in sovereignty after his descent,
And raised its rank in kingship after its decline.
وأَشعْتَand you spread فيamong الثَّقَليْنhumankind and jinn موقعَthe standing of ذكرِهhis name
وأَشعْتَ في الثَّقَليْن موقعَ ذكرِه
فجرتْso flowed بهwith it الأفواهُthe mouths بعدَafter خمولهhis obscurity
فجرتْ به الأفواهُ بعدَ خموله
And spread the renown of his name among humankind and jinn,
And spread the status of its mention among both creations
So that mouths spoke of him after his obscurity—
After their indolence, so mouths flow in praise of it.
أنتyou المُرادُthe intended one بقَصْدِby the intent of كلِّevery قصيدةٍode
أنت المُرادُ بقَصْدِ كلِّ قصيدةٍ
بُنِيَتwas founded علىupon الأفهامdiscernment فيin تَبْجيلهhonoring him
بُنِيَت على الأفهام في تَبْجيله
You are the intended aim of every ode
You are the intended in every ode composed
Founded upon discernment to exalt him,
With meanings in veneration of it.
كسجودِlike the prostration of أَملاكِthe angels of السماءِheaven لآدمٍbefore Adam
كسجودِ أَملاكِ السماءِ لآدمٍ
وسجودُهاand their prostration للهto God فيin تأويلهits interpretation
وسجودُها لله في تأويله
Like the prostration of heaven's angels before Adam,
Like the prostration of the angels of heaven to Adam
Their prostration, rightly understood, being to God.
And their prostration to God in its interpretation.
أَولَيتهyou bestowed on him نِعَماfavors تعَاظمَgrew immense قَدْرُهاtheir worth
أَولَيته نِعَما تعَاظمَ قَدْرُها
شَرَفاin honor فقابَلَهاso he repaid them بفَرْطِwith excess of غُلولهhis betrayal of trust
شَرَفا فقابَلَها بفَرْطِ غُلوله
You bestowed favors on him whose worth grew immense
You have bestowed blessings upon it, magnifying its prestige
In honor; he repaid them with boundless betrayal of trust.
With utmost glory, which it reciprocated with abundant generosity.
نالreached الثرياthe Pleiades فيin ذَراكَyour shelter فحظُّهso his lot
نال الثريا في ذَراكَ فحظُّه
تحتَbeneath الثرىthe earth الأقصىthe deepest طِلابُpursuit of فُضولهhis excesses
تحتَ الثرى الأقصى طِلابُ فُضوله
He reached the Pleiades in your shelter; yet his lot now
It obtained the Pleiades, so its fortune
Lies beneath the deepest earth through his pursuit of excess.
Under the ground is the ultimate seeking of the ambitious.
وجعلتَهand you made him كالشمسِlike the sun ماwhat lies بينَamong الورىhumankind
وجعلتَه كالشمسِ ما بينَ الورى
وفِعالُهand his deeds تَقضِيdecree بوَشْكِthe imminent onset of أُفولهhis setting
وفِعالُه تَقضِي بوَشْكِ أُفوله
You made him like the sun among humankind,
And you have made it like the sun among the creations
Yet his deeds decree his imminent setting.
And its actions decide the nearing of its setting.
فاغترَّso he was deceived بالرأيِby the judgment الذيthat أَوْدَىbrought ruin بهupon him
فاغترَّ بالرأيِ الذي أَوْدَى به
وأَصارَهand delivered him لقُيودهto his fetters وكبولهand his shackles
وأَصارَه لقُيوده وكبوله
He was beguiled by the judgment that destroyed him
So it was deceived by the opinion that destroyed it
And delivered him to his fetters and shackles.
And surrendered it to its shackles and regression.
ومَطامعand the lures of الآمالِhopes تخدعdeceive ذاone possessed of النُّهىreason
ومَطامع الآمالِ تخدع ذا النُّهى
وتُعيدand make عالمَthe sage of عصرِهhis age كجِهولهlike its fool
وتُعيد عالمَ عصرِه كجِهوله
The lures of hope deceive the man of reason
The hopes of ambitions deceive the prohibited
And make the sage of his age like its fool.
And return the knowledgeable man of its time to ignorance.
فاللهُso God ناصرُhelper of منwhoever أطاعَكobeys you صادقاsincerely
فاللهُ ناصرُ من أطاعَك صادقا
ومُبيدُهand his destroyer بالذلِّin humiliation عندat نُكولهhis withdrawal
ومُبيدُه بالذلِّ عند نُكوله
God aids whoever obeys you sincerely
For God supports whoever obeys you sincerely
And destroys him in abasement when he draws back.
And destroys him in disgrace at his regression.
فلقدfor indeed عدلتَyou acted justly فكِدْتَso you almost تأخذُexact رغبةًout of eagerness
فلقد عدلتَ فكِدْتَ تأخذُ رغبةً
بالثأرِin vengeance منfrom هابيلَAbel فيon behalf of قابيِلهhis Cain
بالثأرِ من هابيلَ في قابيِله
For you have been so just that you almost desired to exact
You have been just, and have nearly taken
Vengeance on Abel for his Cain.
Revenge from Cain for Abel by your hand.
ووهبتَand you gave حتىuntil إنّindeed جودَكyour generosity يغمرengulfs الthe
ووهبتَ حتى إنّ جودَك يغمر ال
دنياworld ومنand whoever فيهاis in it ببعضwith some of هُمولهits downpour
دنيا ومن فيها ببعض هُموله
You have given until your generosity engulfs the
And you have granted generosity until your munificence engulfs
World and those within it with part of its downpour.
The world and all in it with some of its overflow.
وحَلُمتand you were forbearing حتىuntil إنَّindeed عفوكyour pardon يسبقoutstrips الthe
وحَلُمت حتى إنَّ عفوك يسبق ال
جانيoffender إلىto الغاياتthe furthest limits منof تأميلهhis hopes
جاني إلى الغايات من تأميله
You have been so forbearing that your pardon outstrips the
And you have been forbearing until your pardon precedes
Offender to the furthest reaches of his hopes.
The sinner in purposes from its delay.
وأَجرتَand you granted refuge منfrom جَورِthe tyranny of الزمانِtime فماso no لَهfor it
وأَجرتَ من جَورِ الزمانِ فما لَه
صَرْفٌturn of fortune يخافُfears الْحُرُّthe noble man منfrom تَنْقيلهits shifting
صَرْفٌ يخافُ الْحُرُّ من تَنْقيله
You granted refuge from time's tyranny; it has no
And you have been steadfast with the injustice of time, so it has not
Turn whose upheavals the noble man need fear.
A diversion the free man fears its transfer.
غاياتُthe utmost bounds of مدحِكyour praise لاnot تُنالare attained ونَيْلُهاand reaching them
غاياتُ مدحِك لا تُنال ونَيْلُها
إفحامُsilencing of مُوجزِهits concise speaker وعجزُand the inability of مُطيلهits lengthy speaker
إفحامُ مُوجزِه وعجزُ مُطيله
The utmost bounds of your praise cannot be reached; to reach them
The limits of praising you cannot be attained, and attaining it
Means silencing the concise panegyrist and defeating the lengthy one.
Is the frustration of the concise and the incapacity of the prolonged.
كالبحرِlike the sea لمnot تبلغreached نهايةُthe furthest reach of ذيone possessed of نُهّىreason
كالبحرِ لم تبلغ نهايةُ ذي نُهّى
أبداًever إلىto مَوزونهits measured weight ومَكيلهand its measured volume
أبداً إلى مَوزونه ومَكيله
Like the sea: the utmost reach of reason cannot
Like the sea, the limits of the possessor of guidance
Ever attain its full weight or measure.
Have never been attained, composed or measured.
ماذاwhat يقولsay المادحونthe panegyrists وقدand already بداappeared
ماذا يقول المادحون وقد بدا
بمديحِكwith praise of you القرآنُthe Qur'an فيin تنزيلهits revelation
بمديحِك القرآنُ في تنزيله
What can the panegyrists say, when already
What can the praisers say, and the Quran has appeared
The Qur'an has appeared in revelation with praise of you?
In its revelation with your praise?
أنتyou الذيthe one who بَعثsent الإلهُGod لناto us بهthrough him
أنت الذي بَعث الإلهُ لنا به
آباءَهhis forefathers فتَمثَّلواso they took form بمُثولهin his presence
آباءَه فتَمثَّلوا بمُثوله
You are the one through whom God has sent to us
You are the one God has sent us, in whom
Your forefathers, embodied in your presence.
Its forefathers have been personified by its arrival.
حتىeven لقدindeed ودَّwished الحجازُthe Hijaz تشوقاin yearning
حتى لقد ودَّ الحجازُ تشوقا
لوif only زارهhe visited it برسُومهwith its traces وطُلولهand its ruins
لو زاره برسُومه وطُلوله
Even the Hijaz has wished, in yearning,
The Hejaz has wished, craving,
That you might visit its traces and ruins,
If only it would visit with its customs and habits.
فيرىand would recognize لوجهكfor your face ماwhat رأىit recognized منof حَقِّهمtheir due
فيرى لوجهك ما رأى من حَقِّهم
فيماin what مضىhas passed بجمالهthrough his beauty وجميلهand his beneficence
فيما مضى بجماله وجميله
And recognize your face's due as it once recognized theirs,
To see your face, which it saw truly in them
In bygone days, through your beauty and beneficence.
In times past, with its beauty and grace.
ولِيُمْسِكand let it grasp البيتُthe House الحرامُthe sacred وحِجْرُهand its Hijr
ولِيُمْسِك البيتُ الحرامُ وحِجْرُه
ومقامُهand its Maqam وحَطيمُهand its Hatim بذُيولهto his robe's hems
ومقامُه وحَطيمُه بذُيوله
Let the Sacred House and its Hijr cling,
And so the Sacred House can grab hold of its chamber
With its Maqam and Hatim, to your robe's hems;
And station, and its rubble with its walls.
ويُبادِرَand let it hasten الْحَجرُthe Stone العظيمُthe mighty ومالَهand it has nothing
ويُبادِرَ الْحَجرُ العظيمُ ومالَه
غيرُother than استلامِtouching يديهhis two hands أوor تقبيلهkissing him
غيرُ استلامِ يديه أو تقبيله
And let the mighty Stone hasten, having no choice
And the Black Stone and its surroundings
But to touch your hands or kiss you.
Would hasten, if not to touch it or kiss it.
وتقولand will say مكةُMecca عندat ذاكthat وطَيْبَةٌand Tayba
وتقول مكةُ عند ذاك وطَيْبَةٌ
هذاthis ابنُson of حَيْدرةَHaydara الرِّضاَthe approved one وبَتولهand his Batul
هذا ابنُ حَيْدرةَ الرِّضاَ وبَتوله
Then Mecca and Tayba will say:
And Mecca and Taibah would say at that time:
This is the son of Haydara, the approved one, and his Batul.
This is the son of Haydar, Al-Ridha and Batoul.
هذاthis ضياءُthe radiance of اللهِGod والمعنىand the meaning الذيthat
هذا ضياءُ اللهِ والمعنى الذي
تتَفاضلُsurpass one another العلماءُthe scholars فيin تعليلهexplaining it
تتَفاضلُ العلماءُ في تعليله
This is God's radiance and the meaning
This is the light of God and the meaning
In whose explanation scholars surpass one another.
Over which scholars differ in its interpretation.
هذاthis ابنُson of مَنْthe one whom أَدْناهُdrew him near منهto Himself إلهُهhis God
هذا ابنُ مَنْ أَدْناهُ منه إلهُه
كالقابِlike the span منof قَوْسَيْنtwo bows فيin تمثيلهits comparison
كالقابِ من قَوْسَيْن في تمثيله
This is the son of one whose God drew him near to Himself,
This is the son of whom his God has brought him near
Like the span of two bows, in the likeness given.
Like the bow's length of two bows in its similitude.
هذاthis ابنson of منthe one whom نطقspoke الذراعُthe foreleg لجَدِّهto his grandfather
هذا ابن من نطق الذراعُ لجَدِّه
إذْwhen سَمَّهpoisoned him الكفارthe unbelievers فيin مأكولهhis food
إذْ سَمَّه الكفار في مأكوله
This is the son of one to whose grandfather the foreleg spoke,
This is the son of whom the forearm spoke to his grandfather
When the unbelievers poisoned him in his food;
When the disbelievers poisoned his food.
منthe one in whom آمنتْbelieved جِنُّthe jinn of البلادthe land بهin him وقدand already
من آمنتْ جِنُّ البلاد به وقد
سمعتْheard كلامَthe word of اللهِGod فيin تنزيلهits revelation
سمعتْ كلامَ اللهِ في تنزيله
The one in whom the jinn of the land believed, having
The one in whom the jinn of the lands believed
Heard God's word in its revelation.
When it heard the words of God in its revelation.
ماnot زالceased يَنْقُلهpasses him on الإلهGod مُطهَّراpurified
ما زال يَنْقُله الإله مُطهَّرا
عنfrom ظهرِthe loins of مثلِone like ذَبيحهHis Sacrificial One وخَليلهand His intimate friend
عن ظهرِ مثلِ ذَبيحه وخَليله
God kept passing him on, purified,
He continued to transfer it purified
From the loins of such as His Sacrificial One and His Friend.
From the loins of sacrifices like Ishmael and Khalil.
وتَوارثتْهand inherited him in turn الأنبياءُthe prophets وسادةُand the lords of الthe
وتَوارثتْه الأنبياءُ وسادةُ ال
خلفاءِcaliphs حتىuntil حانَcame وقتُthe time of حُلولهhis arrival
خلفاءِ حتى حانَ وقتُ حُلوله
The prophets inherited him in turn, and the lords of the
The prophets and the master caliphs inherited him
Caliphs, until the time came for his arrival.
Until the time of its arrival came.
قَسماan oath بمولِدهby his birth وغُرَّةِand the radiance of وجهِهhis face
قَسما بمولِده وغُرَّةِ وجهِه
شَرَفاin nobility أَنافrose high لعصِرهfor his age ولجِيلهand for his generation
شَرَفا أَناف لعصِره ولجِيله
I swear by his birth and the radiance of his face,
By his birth and the prime of his face,
A glory that rose high for his age and his generation:
It honored the best of its time and generation.
هذاthis مُذِلُّhumbler of الشِّرْكِpolytheism بالعَزْمwith the resolve الذيthat
هذا مُذِلُّ الشِّرْكِ بالعَزْم الذي
ماnone فيهin it غيرُother than أسيرهhis captive وقتيلهand his slain
ما فيه غيرُ أسيره وقتيله
This is he who humbles polytheism with a resolve that
This is the disgracer of polytheism with the determination that
Leaves none but his captives and his slain.
None shall be its captive or killed but its enemy.
أَغنتْfreed from need هِباتُكyour gifts قُطْرَthe land of مِصْرEgypt عنof الْحَياrain
أَغنتْ هِباتُك قُطْرَ مِصْر عن الْحَيا
جُوداin generosity وأغنىand freed from need نَيْلُهاreceiving them عنof نِيلهits Nile
جُودا وأغنى نَيْلُها عن نِيله
Your gifts have freed the land of Egypt from need of rain,
Your gifts have made the land of Egypt needless of the Nile
In bounty; receiving them has freed it from need of its Nile.
In generosity, and its Nile needless of its flooding.
مَدَّspread الحياءَshame علىover الْحَياthe rain حتىuntil انثَنىturned away
مَدَّ الحياءَ على الْحَيا حتى انثَنى
عنهاaway from it ودامand remained النيلُthe Nile فيin تَطْفيلهits uninvited attendance
عنها ودام النيلُ في تَطْفيله
It cast shame upon the rain until it turned
Bashfulness has covered the snake until it recoiled
Away from Egypt, while the Nile remained an uninvited guest.
From it, and the Nile continues in its winding.
ولقدand indeed يُريدdesires تَشَبُّهاresemblance بكto you فيin الندىgenerosity
ولقد يُريد تَشَبُّها بك في الندى
وأقلُّand the least of جودِthe generosity of يديكyour two hands مثلُlike جَليلهits greatest bounty
وأقلُّ جودِ يديك مثلُ جَليله
It seeks to resemble you in generosity,
It wants to emulate you in dew,
Yet the least bounty of your hands equals its greatest.
And the least of your hands' generosity is like its deluge.
ونَداكand your bounty أَدْومmore lasting ثمthen أحلىsweeter موقعاin effect
ونَداك أَدْوم ثم أحلى موقعا
منهthan it فماso not ينفكُّceases عنfrom تخجيلهputting it to shame
منه فما ينفكُّ عن تخجيله
Your bounty is more constant, and sweeter in its effect
Your cloud is lasting, then sweeter in place
Than the Nile's, so it never ceases to put it to shame.
Than it, so it does not cease in its humiliation.
لوif لمnot يُراعِshow regard لهfor it قريبَthe closeness of جوارِهِits neighborhood
لو لم يُراعِ له قريبَ جوارِهِ
لرَواهwould surely drench it سَيْبُكyour bounty فيin عظيمthe greatness of نزولهits descent
لرَواه سَيْبُك في عظيم نزوله
Were no regard shown for its close neighborhood,
If reverence for its proximity were not regarded,
Your bounty would drench it in its mighty downpour.
You would see it flooding in your great arrival.
جودٌgenerosity يَفيضoverflows لمنfor whoever دَناdraws near ولمنand for whoever نَأىis far off
جودٌ يَفيض لمن دَنا ولمن نَأى
فالْخَلقُso creation بينbetween هُمولهits downpour وشُمولهand its encompassing reach
فالْخَلقُ بين هُموله وشُموله
A generosity that overflows for those near and those far;
A generosity that overflows to the near and the distant,
All creation lies between its downpour and its all-embracing reach.
So creation is between its flood and its rain.
ياO طالباseeker للدينof religion والدنياand worldly life معاtogether
يا طالبا للدين والدنيا معا
يَبْغيهماseeks them both بوَجيفهwith his galloping وذَميلهand his trotting
يَبْغيهما بوَجيفه وذَميله
O seeker of religion and worldly life together,
O seeker of religion and life together,
Who pursues them both at a gallop and a trot,
Wanting both with his honor and resolution.
مِصراًEgypt فبابُfor the gate of اللهِGod فيهاis in it سائلُseeker of الthe
مِصراً فبابُ اللهِ فيها سائلُ ال
أفضالِfavors قدindeed سعدprospered الوَرىhumankind بدخولهby entering it
أفضالِ قد سعد الوَرى بدخوله
To Egypt! God's gate is there, O seeker of the
Egypt's door of God's bounties within it, the questioner
Favors: mankind has prospered by entering it.
Of grace has been fortunate by its entrance.
الآمرُAl-Amir, the commander المنصورُal-Mansur, the victorious والجبلُand the mountain الذيthat
الآمرُ المنصورُ والجبلُ الذي
قامتْstood ملوكُthe kings of الأرضِthe earth تحتَbeneath سهولهits lowlands
قامتْ ملوكُ الأرضِ تحتَ سهوله
Al-Amir al-Mansur, the mountain beneath whose
Al-Mansour the commander, and the mountain upon which
Lowlands the kings of the earth stand.
The kings of earth stood beneath its plains.
هوhe واحدٌone والناسُand humankind طُرّاaltogether بعضُهa part of him
هو واحدٌ والناسُ طُرّا بعضُه
ماnot عازَهwas lacking to him فيamong الخلقcreation غيرُexcept عَديلهhis equal
ما عازَه في الخلق غيرُ عَديله
He is one, and all mankind is but a part of him;
It is one, and people are amazed, some of it
Among creation he lacks nothing but his equal.
None reproached among the creations but its equal.
ياO غرَّةَbright brow of الحقِّtruth المُنيرةَilluminating للورىfor humankind
يا غرَّةَ الحقِّ المُنيرةَ للورى
فدليلُهاfor its sign بادٍmanifest علىupon مدلولهwhat it signifies
فدليلُها بادٍ على مدلوله
O bright brow of truth, illuminating mankind,
O gem of truth radiating the creations,
For its sign is plain upon the one it signifies.
So its evidence guides to its meaning.
هذاthis مقامa station كنتI was أَجْهَدexerting myself دائِباunceasingly
هذا مقام كنت أَجْهَد دائِبا
فيin نَيْلهattaining it وأَجِدُّand striving earnestly فيin تحصيلهsecuring it
في نَيْله وأَجِدُّ في تحصيله
This is a station for which I strove unceasingly,
This is a position I have constantly striven
To attain it, laboring earnestly to secure it,
To attain, and put great effort into achieving.
حتىuntil وقفتُI stood أمامَbefore دَسْتِكyour throne مُنشِداreciting verse
حتى وقفتُ أمامَ دَسْتِك مُنشِدا
ماthat which أنتyou أعلمُmost knowledgeable سامعٍlistener بمقَولةconcerning a saying
ما أنت أعلمُ سامعٍ بمقَولة
Until I stood before your throne, reciting
Until I stood reciting before your hand,
Words you understand best of all who listen.
That which you know best, O listening one, of my words.
فلأَفْخَرَنَّso I shall surely boast بهof it لأكِمدto torment حاسديmy envier
فلأَفْخَرَنَّ به لأكِمد حاسدي
حتىuntil يموتَhe dies بغيظهof his rage وغَليلهand his burning spite
حتى يموتَ بغيظه وغَليله
I shall surely boast of this, to torment my envier,
So I will pride myself with it, to spite my enviers
Until he dies of his rage and burning spite.
Until they die of rage and agony.
فتَهنَّso rejoice in هذاthis العيدَfeast-day فهْوfor it مُهَنَّأٌis congratulated
فتَهنَّ هذا العيدَ فهْو مُهَنَّأٌ
فيماin what لديكis with you بقُربِهthrough its nearness ووُصولهand its arrival
فيما لديك بقُربِه ووُصوله
Enjoy this feast-day; it, too, is to be congratulated
Delight in this feast, for it is gladdened
In your presence, for its nearness and arrival.
In your presence by its nearness and arrival.
وافَىit arrived فأَدركَso it attained منكfrom you فخراglory عاجلاpromptly
وافَى فأَدركَ منك فخرا عاجلا
ظَفِرwon الزمانُtime بهit مِنِfrom اسْماعيلهits Isma'il
ظَفِر الزمانُ به مِنِ اسْماعيله
It came, and promptly gained glory from you,
It came fulfilling, and so attained pride from you quickly,
Which time won from its Isma'il.
The time triumphed by it over Ishmael.
شَرَّفتَناyou honored us وزمانَناand our age فجميعُناso all of us
شَرَّفتَنا وزمانَنا فجميعُنا
مُتميِّزdistinguished فيwithin جنسهhis kind وقَبيلهand his tribe
مُتميِّز في جنسه وقَبيله
You have honored us and our age, so all of us
You have ennobled us and our time, so we are all
Are distinguished within our kind and our tribe.
Distinguished in its type and tribe.
فاسلمْso remain safe ودُمْand endure والْقَand greet السنينthe years بمُبْتداwith the beginning of
فاسلمْ ودُمْ والْقَ السنين بمُبْتدا
عُمرٍa life كطيبِlike the sweetness of نَدىthe bounty of يَدَيْكyour two hands وطولهand its length
عُمرٍ كطيبِ نَدى يَدَيْك وطوله
Remain safe and endure; greet the years with a new beginning
So be safe and live long, initiating
Of life, as sweet and long as the bounty of your hands.
A lifetime like the sweetness of your hand's dew and duration.
Sol 6.1